Remote switching device



Nov. 27, 195] R MOORE 2,576,410

REMOTE SWITCHING DEVICE Filed July 15, 1949 CONTROL F/ con/mars F L CONTROL common 72 3 Wu make/o Roy mood E Moore Patented Nov. 27, 1951 NITED STATES GFECE REMOTE SWITCHING DEVICE Raymond E. Moore, Denver, Colo.

Application July 15, 1949, Serial No. 104,939

2 Claims.

The invention relates to a switching device that is controlled by the closing of the control contacts of the switching device; and the objects of the invention are:

(l) The object of this device is to provide a means whereby a remote pair of communication cable or line wires may be opened or closed for testing purposes from a central office by operating this device from any conventional ringing selector.

(2) A further object of this device is to provide a means whereby in combination with a frequency operated relay, a pulse controlled selector, or any conventionally operated electrical contacts, this device may be used to perform switching operations of one or more circuits.

(3) Another object of this device is to provide a means of alternate switching action on the successive closing of the controlling electrical contacts, i. e., the first closing of the controlling contacts will cause the device to set up all remote switches in an opened position; the second closing of the controlling electrical contacts will cause the device to set up all remote switches in a closed position.

(4) Another object of this device is the operation of this device from any other adjacent circuit to control a desired circuit, 1. e., a pair of communication wires, or cables, may be opened or closed even in a defective condition by means of the operating of this device from an adjacent single or pair of communication wires on which a selector, relay, or other pair of contacts to this device are operated from the central ofhce.

(5) Another object of this device is to provide a means whereby in combination with the usual low cycle ringing selectors distributed along railroad communication lines, a method of opening and closing these communication lines for test purposes is obtained. To test a single or a pair of wires, this device may be used on the single line or the pair of wires, from an adjacent circuit.

(6) Another object of this device is to provide by means of mercury switches an improved method of opening and closing circuits at remote locations which are dilficult to reach for test and maintenance purposes.

('7) Another object of this device is to provide a remote or direct means of opening or closing circuits so that power is consumed by the device only during the interval of actually opening or closing the circuits connected to the device.

(8) Another object of this devicefor test purposes, this device in combination with a Western Electric type GO-AP selector with a neon lamp 22.; in series, provides a means of removing all shunting ringing selectors from the line.

(9) A further object relates to the advantages that are obtained by having the mercury in the switch shift in the switch as it operates so that its weight helps hold the switch in proper position upon termination of operating current.

(10) Another object provides for the elimina tion of arcing of the contacts operated by the plunger, brought about by the inertia of the mercury causing the contacts to remain closed until the upper spring contact is made when the plunger is lifted.

(11) Another object provides for alternate reversals of the switch with the same direction of controlling current pulses.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of certain novel f atures of construction, more fully described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings Figures 1 and 2 are diagrammatic representations of the electrical circuit of the switching device. Figure 1 shows one preferred embodiment and Figure 2 shows another embodiment.

I shall first describe the parts of Figures 1 and 2 in numerical order; other than physical arrangement the parts of Figures 1 and 2 are identities and are numbered the same.

Parts I! and 2 are solenoid magnets operated by either A. C. or D. C. power. Parts 3 and i are plungers, the upper section of each plunger being non-magnetic material and the lower section of each plunger, magnetic material. Parts 3 and i, the plungers, slide through the centers of parts i and 2, the solenoids. Parts 5 and 6 are single pole, double throw switches whichmay be micro-switches or any other type known to the trade. Parts 1, 8, i] and ill are mercury or other conductive liquid switches that open and close electrically by alternate tilting. Part ii is the pivot or axle about which the mercury switch platform swings. Part i2 is a set of electrical contacts which when closed operate the remote switch. Part I 3 is the power supply of either alternating or direct current.

Part It is the mercury switch platform on which any desired number of switches may be mounted and this platform is tilted in alternate positions about axle, part H.

Parts l5, l6, H, and I8 are circuit connections from the switching device to external communication lines or other electrical circuits to be controlled and there can be as many of these connections as are necessary for the desired number of mercury switches, parts 1, 8, 9 and Ill.

Parts I3, 20, 2I, 22, 23, 24, 25 and 26 are flexible connections from the mercury switches to the other parts of the circuit. Parts I9, 20, 2I, 22, 23, 24, 25 and 26 may be substituted by any other method of connections known to the trade.

One procedure of operation is as follows:

The closing of control contacts I2 causes curup, it removes its weight from the movable spring of switch 6. The movable spring of switch 6 now springs up, thus breaking connection with the lowerspring of switch 6 and making connection with the upper spring of switch 6. As plunger 4 moves platform I4 to its alternate position, mercury switch 8 opens but only after the movable spring of switch 6 makes contact with the upper contact of switch 6.

The current now flows through contacts I2, through power supply I3, through solenoid 2, through the upper spring of switch 6, through the movable spring of switch 6, and returns to contacts I2, completing the circuit. As long as contacts I2 remain closed, this circuit remains operated with plunger 4 held in a raised position.

When contacts I2 are opened, plunger 4 drops to its original position and platform I4 stays in its new position with the lower end held by gravity against solenoid I. This position may be further insured, if desired, by the use of small fixed magnets, small spring snaps, or other methods known applied to the ends of the platform I4.

It impossible to energize solenoid I while plunger 4 is in a raised position because the lower fixed contact of switch 6 is open and the upper fixed contact of switch 5 is open, thus preventing current fiow from electrical source I3.

When contacts I2 are again closed, with platform I4 in tilted position with lower end resting on solenoid I, current flows from battery I3 through contacts I2, through lower fixed con tact switch 6, through movable contact switch 5, through I9, through closed mercury switch I, through 20, through solenoid I, to battery I3. This current flow energizes solenoid I and attracts magnetic plunger 3 to a raised position,

thus exerting a force on platform I4 that causes platform I4 to tilt to a position so that the lower end of platform :4 rests on solenoid 2. Raising of the plunger 3 causes the movable arm of switch 5 to open from the lower fixed contact and make contact with the upper fixed contact, thus causing current to flow from electrical source I3 through contacts I2, through the movable contact of switch 5, throughthe upper fixed contact of switch 5, through solenoid I, to electrical source I3. Simultaneously, platform I4 is tilted and mercury switch I is opened.

This alternate switching operation by consecutive opening and closing of contacts I2, as described, results, first, in the opening of mercury switches 9 and I0 and then, second, in the closing of the switches, this operation resulting in the opening and closing of two circuits-I5 and I6, I1 and I8, or more, if desired-independent of connection to each other or the controlling switches.

I am aware that prior to my invention of this remote switching device the'difierent parts set forth and enumerated herein have been known to science and manufactured for some time. I, therefore, do not claim any invention insofar as the individually named parts are used, but I claim the objects as set forth herein above as claims for my invention, and I further claim:

1. A solenoid operated switch comprising a rockable bar tiltable to a position on one, side or the other of a fixed axis, liquid switch means carried by said bar and having respective pairs of electrodes electrically shunted in response to the tilted position of said bar on either side of the pivotal axis, a pair of solenoids having respective plungers alternately operable to tilt said bar to one side or the other of said axis, including respective control switch means operated by said plungers and circuit means intermediate said liquid switch means and said control switch means, whereby said solenoids are alternately energizable, depending on the tilted positionof said bar, each of the control switch means comprises a resilient element engageable with either of two contacts and normally biased to engage one of the contacts, said resilient element being engageable by the plunger of the respective solenoid and being biased by the weight thereof toward the other contact, the circuit arrangement being such that tilting of said rockable bar on one side of the axis by one of said solenoids serves to effect predetermined engagement and disengagement of said resilient elements and their respective contacts whereby to energize the other of said solenoids upon subsequent electrical impulse being furnished to said circuit.

2. A solenoid operated switch as set forth in claim 1, including additional liquid switch means carried by said rockable bar for controlling current in an exterior circuit.

RAYMOND E. MOORE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,000,052 Thordarson Aug. 8, 1911 1,074,911 Unverricht Oct. 7, 1913 1,152,822 Lanphier et al. Sept. 7, 1915 1,667,747 Somes May 1, 1928 1,668,841 Doty May 8, 1928 1,694,977 Hall Dec. 11, 1928 1,916,360 Crane July 4, 1933 2,274,558 Murray Feb. 24, 1942 2,341,192 Rietz et a1. Feb. 8, 1944 

